(KJV) Esther 51

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⥃Esther Approaches the King

[1] Now it came to pass on the2 third day, that Esther put on [her] royal3 [apparel], and stood in the inner4 court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat5 upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. [2] And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, [that] she6 obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre7 that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. [3] Then said the king unto her, What8 wilt thou, queen Esther? and what [is] thy request? it shall be even given thee to9 the half of the kingdom. [4] And Esther answered, If [it seem10] good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet11 that I have prepared for him. [5] Then the king said, Cause Haman12 to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

[6] [¶]And the king said13 unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what [is] thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. [7] Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request [is]; [8] If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform14 my request, let the king15 and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow16 as the king hath said.

⥃Haman’s Plot against Mordecai

[9] Then went Haman forth that day joyful17 and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up18, nor moved for him, he was full19 of indignation against Mordecai. [10] Nevertheless Haman refrained20 himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends21, and Zeresh his wife. [11] And Haman told them of the glory22 of his riches, and the multitude23 of his children, and all [the things] wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had24 advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. [12] Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther25 the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow26 am I invited unto her also with the king. [13] Yet all this27 availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

[14] [¶]Then said Zeresh28 his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows29 be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou30 unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in31 merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing32 pleased Haman; and he caused33 the gallows to be made.

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  1. Esth 5:1, Esther, adventuring on the king’s favour, obtains the grace of the golden sceptre, and invites the king and Haman to a banquet; Esth 5:6, She, being encouraged by the king in her suit, invites them to another banquet the next day; Esth 5:9, Haman, proud of his advancement, repines at the contempt of Mordecai; Esth 5:14, By the counsel of Zeresh he prepares for him a gallows. ↩

  2. Esth 4:16; Matt 27:64 ↩

  3. Esth 1:11, Esth 8:15; Matt 10:16, Matt 11:8; 1Pet 3:3-5 ↩

  4. Esth 4:11, Esth 6:4 ↩

  5. 1Kgs 10:18-20; Luke 22:30; Rev 3:21 ↩

  6. Gen 32:28; Neh 1:11; Ps 116:1; Prov 21:1; Acts 7:10, Acts 10:4 ↩

  7. Esth 4:11, Esth 8:4 ↩

  8. Esth 5:6; Esth 7:2, Esth 9:12; 1Kgs 2:20, 1Kgs 3:5; Matt 20:20-22; Luke 18:41 ↩

  9. Esth 5:6; Mark 6:23 ↩

  10. Esth 5:8; Prov 29:11 ↩

  11. Mishteh, from shathah, "to drink," a compotation. feast, or banquet accompanied with drinking; the drinking in the East being at the beginning, and not at the end of the entertainment. Olearius, describing an entertainment at the Persian court, says, "The floor of the hall was covered with cotton cloth, which was covered with all sorts of fruits and sweetmeats in basons of gold. With them was served up excellent Shiraz wine. After an hour's time, the sweetmeats were removed, to make way for the more substantial part of the entertainment, such as rice, boiled and roast mutton, etc. When the company had been at table an hour and a half, warm water was brought, in a ewer of gold, for washing; and grace being said, they began to retire without speaking a word, according to the custom of the country." Esth 5:8, Esth 3:15; Gen 27:25, Gen 32:20; Ps 112:5; 1Cor 14:20 ↩

  12. Esth 6:14 ↩

  13. Esth 5:3, Esth 7:2, Esth 9:12 ↩

  14. Heb. do ↩

  15. Esther probably wished another interview, that she might ingratiate herself more fully into the king's favour, and thus secure the success of her design. But Providence disposed of things thus, to give time for the important event mentioned in the following chapter. ↩

  16. Esth 6:1-13; Prov 16:9 ↩

  17. Job 20:5; Amos 6:12-13; Luke 6:25; John 16:20; Jas 4:9 ↩

  18. Esth 3:2; Ps 15:4; Matt 10:28 ↩

  19. Esth 3:5; 1Kgs 21:4; Job 31:31; Ps 27:3; Dan 3:13, Dan 3:16-19; Matt 2:16; Acts 7:54 ↩

  20. Gen 43:30-31, Gen 45:1; 2Sam 13:22-23; Eccl 7:9 ↩

  21. Heb. caused his friends to come, Zeresh. Esth 6:13 ↩

  22. Esth 1:4; Gen 31:1; Job 31:24-25; Ps 49:6, Ps 49:16-17; Isa 10:8; Jer 9:23-24; Dan 4:30; Mark 10:24; Luke 12:19-20; 1Tim 6:17 ↩

  23. Esth 9:7-10, Esth 9:12-13; Job 27:14-15; Hos 9:13-14 ↩

  24. Esth 3:1 ↩

  25. Plutarch, in his life of Artaxerxes, informs us, that none but the king's mother, and his real wife, were permitted to sit at his table; and therefore he mentions it as a condescension in that prince, that he sometimes invited his brothers. Haman, therefore, had some reason to be proud of this favour. ↩

  26. Job 8:12-13, Job 20:5-8; Ps 37:35-36; Prov 7:22-23, Prov 27:1; Luke 21:34-35; 1Thess 5:3 ↩

  27. Pride will ever render its possessor unhappy. Haman, though possessed of immense riches, glory, and honour, and the prime favourite of his king, is wretched, because he could not have the homage of that man whom his heart even despised! Oh, how distressing are the inquietudes of pride and vanity. 1Kgs 21:4-6; Job 15:20, Job 18:4; Eccl 1:2, Eccl 1:14; Phil 4:11-12 ↩

  28. 2Sam 13:3-5; 1Kgs 21:7, 1Kgs 21:25; 2Chr 22:3-4; Mark 6:19-24 ↩

  29. Heb. Let a tree, Esth 7:9 ↩

  30. Esth 3:8-15, Esth 6:4 ↩

  31. Esth 3:15; 1Kgs 21:7; Amos 6:4-6; Rev 11:10 ↩

  32. 2Sam 16:21-23, 2Sam 17:1-4; Mark 14:10-11; Acts 23:14-15; Rom 1:32 ↩

  33. Esth 7:10; Ps 7:13-16, Ps 9:15, Ps 37:14, Ps 37:32; Prov 1:18, Prov 4:16; Rom 3:15 ↩